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Winemaker's Notes

100% Viognier

Intensely powerful and elegant aromas of white flowers, apricot, white peaches. The palate is fresh, round, rich and full-bodied. Fully expressive of the terroir with great finesse. A pleasant light acidity is well balanced with round, fleshy fruitiness.

Enjoy as an aperitif, or with foie gras, scrambled egg and truffles, or delicate fish.

Critical Acclaim

RP95

The Wine Advocate - "This full-bodied white was aged in one-third new oak and two-thirds tank. One hundred percent of the 2007 Condrieu La Doriane is vinified in new oak, and put through malolactic. It is then aged for 11 months prior to bottling. Absolutely exquisite, with the oak pushed to the background, this wine’s fruit character is dominated by apricots, peaches, honeysuckle, and marmalade. The beautiful floral and honeyed fruit aromatics are followed by a sumptuous, full-bodied white that is never heavy (because of good acidity) or flabby. Consume it over the next 2-3 years.
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WS94

Wine Spectator - "Really dense, with a massive core of white peach, fig, almond and Cavaillon melon notes carried by a remarkably creamy-textured palate. Long and pure through the finish, with mineral and floral notes waiting in reserve. Best from 2009 through 2014."

WE93

Wine Enthusiast - "Guigal's luxury cuvée from Condrieu is a blend of vineyards, all vinified and agfed for eight months in new oak. The result is a big, spicy, rich wine, graced with smoky nuances but built on concentrated honey and apricots. It's long and powerful on the finish, ending with impressive spice. Drink now-2015. "

ST92

International Wine Cellar - "Pale yellow. Intensely floral, sexy bouquet of tangerine, white pepper, lavender and brown spices. Very fresh in the mouth, with sweet citrus and pit fruit flavors, tangy mineral bite and a suave chamomile quality. Really clings to the palate, finishing with excellent clarity, lift and thrust. This has the balance to reward patience but is already extremely seductive."

W&S90

Wine & Spirits - "Richer than Guigal's basic bottling, La Doriane is pushed to super ripeness, the peach flavors taking on a slightly roasted character, a white pepper heat on the finish. Together with the lush texture, it's a big wine for a rich dish, like roasted marrow bones and a parsley salad."

E. Guigal Winery

The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the ancient village of Ampuis, home of the wines of the Côte-Rôtie. In these vineyards that are over 2400 years old, you can still see the small terraced walls characteristic of the Roman period. Etienne Guigal arrived in this region in 1923 at the age of 14. He made wine for over 67 vintages and, at the beginning of his career, participated in the development of the Vidal-Fleury establishment.

Despite his young age, Marcel Guigal took over from his father in 1961 when the latter was victim to a brutal illness rendering him blind. Marcel's hard work and perseverance enabled the Guigals to buy out Vidal-Fleury in 1984, although the establishment retains its own identity and commercial autonomy. In 2000, the Guigals purchased the Jean-Louis Grippat estate in Saint-Joseph and Hermitage, as well as the Domaine de Vallouit in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.

In the cellars of the Guigal estate in Ampuis, the northern appellations of the Rhône Valley are produced and aged. These are the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. The great appellations of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Tavel and Côtes-du-Rhône, are also aged in the Ampuis cellars.
View all E. Guigal Wines

About Condrieu

This tiny appellation just south of Cote Rotie produces all white wine, all from Viognier, the heady, perfumed grape that is at its best in the Northern Rhone. The slopes are south facing and made of granite, with a very specific top soil made from mica, called arzelle. Condrieu is small, with only 300 acres of vine. Within Condrieu lies Chateau Grillet, a sole estate and an appellation – the smallest one in France at under 9 acres of vine. Also a Viognier-only region, the wines from here are small production (obviously) so somewhat expensive, but not always superior in quality to Condrieu.

Notable Facts

Due to Viognier's fickle nature, the yields in Condrieu are kept low and the grapes are carefully tended. This in turn leads to low production and high quality - not to mention high prices. Slopes face the south and so protect the vines from the disruptive (yet cooling) winds of the Mistral. The wine is meant to be drunk young (within 3 years) because the grape does not often have the acid to hold the wine up for longevity. Typical of Viognier, the wines exude intense scents of apricot and honeysuckle. For the true essence of Viognier, Condrieu is the wine to try.

About France - Other regions

When it comes to wine, France is a classic. Classic blends, grapes and styles began in the country and they still remain. Think about it - people ask for a Burgundian style Pinot Noir, they refer to wines as Bordeaux or Rhone blends - Champagne even had to pass a law to stop international wineries from putting their region on the label of all sparkling wine.

The top regions of France are: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Rhone. And these regions are so diverse! It makes sense that wine regions throughout the world try to emulate their style. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Syrah are no longer French varieties, but international varieties. They may not be the leader of cutting edge technology or value-priced wines, but there is no doubt that they are still producing wines of great quality and diversity.

La Turque is Guigal's latest addition to the single vineyard Côte Rôties, acquired in 1985. It is also the smallest,
with just under a hectare planted to 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier. Situated on a vertiginous slope in the center ...

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Crisp

Light to medium bodied wines that are high in acid and light to medium fruit. Typically no oak.